National Football Post

National Football Post was an American online sports publication focused on professional and collegiate American football coverage. Founded in the mid-2000s, it provided scouting analysis, rumor aggregation, and commentary on the National Football League and NCAA Division I FBS football. The site became known for contributions from former scouts, coaches, and front-office personnel tied to franchises such as the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, and Green Bay Packers.

History

Founded in 2006 by former NFL scout Andy Benoit and sports entrepreneur Joe Fortunato, the outlet launched during a period of digital expansion alongside sites like ProFootballTalk, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo! Sports, and Bleacher Report. Early coverage intersected with major events including the NFL Draft, Super Bowl XLII, 2007 New England Patriots season, and the 2008 NFL season controversies. The site tracked quarterback narratives linked to figures such as Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, and Drew Brees, while also covering coaching shifts involving Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin, Tony Dungy, Sean Payton, and Pete Carroll. Over time the publication archived material as the digital media landscape consolidated with acquisitions and partnerships involving FanNation, SB Nation, and broadcast entities such as NBC Sports and Fox Sports.

Editorial Content and Coverage

Editorial focus combined scouting reports, draft evaluations, and game analysis with rumor-driven posts similar to items seen at The Athletic, Deadspin, Fox Sports blogs, and CBS Sports columns. Coverage emphasized the NFL Combine, Pro Day, and tape study for prospects like Saquon Barkley, Jameis Winston, Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert. The site published content on roster management for teams including the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles. Reporting touched on collective bargaining implications tied to the NFLPA and events such as the 2011 NFL lockout and player discipline cases involving Adrian Peterson and Ben Roethlisberger. Analysis frequently referenced models and metrics used by organizations like Pro Football Focus and scouting departments of the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, and Washington Commanders.

Contributors and Staff

Contributors included former personnel from scouting and coaching ranks: scouts and evaluators who had worked for franchises such as the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Columnists and analysts drew comparisons to writers at Peter King's columns in SI.com and reporters connected to outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. Guest posts and interviews featured personalities with ties to the College Football Playoff system, Bowl Championship Series, and coaches from programs such as Alabama Crimson Tide, Clemson Tigers, Ohio State Buckeyes, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and LSU Tigers football. Staffing changes mirrored movements seen across media, with editors moving between properties like The Ringer, Grantland, Deadspin, and regional newspapers such as the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Audience and Reception

The publication catered to readers interested in draftnik analysis, cap management, and depth-chart breakdowns, drawing an audience similar to followers of Rotowire, OverTheCap, Field Yates, Adam Schefter, and Ian Rapoport. Reception among hobbyist scouts, beat reporters covering teams such as the Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, and Seattle Seahawks was mixed: praised for insider perspective yet criticized when speculation overlapped with reporting standards expected from institutions like AP Sports and wire services. Engagement peaked around events like the NFL Draft and Super Bowl broadcasts, with social media discussion occurring on platforms including Twitter and forums frequented by communities tracking players from programs like the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns.

Business Model and Ownership

The site's model combined advertising-driven revenue with subscription-style premium content, a strategy used by contemporaries such as The Athletic and legacy brands like Sports Illustrated. Ownership structures evolved amid consolidation trends involving media groups and digital networks tied to entities like AOL, BuzzFeed, and Vox Media. Monetization efforts referenced sponsorship opportunities around marquee events—the NFL Draft, Pro Bowl, and Super Bowl—and partnerships with analytics vendors similar to Pro Football Focus and fantasy platforms like ESPN Fantasy Football and Yahoo Fantasy Sports. As competition increased from national broadcasters such as CBS Sports, NBC Sports, and FOX Sports', the site's independent operation eventually diminished and its archives were assimilated into the broader digital sports ecosystem.

Category:American sports websites